Internet control system communication protocol and method

Abstract

A communication protocol includes a packet protocol, which includes a protocol field for indicating the type of protocol, a length of data field for listing the length in bytes of the data field, a data field containing sub protocol data, and a checksum for determining the integrity of the packet.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. In a control system comprising a single master and a plurality of devices, a method for communicating control information comprising: 
       configuring said system to initially direct all messages sent to and from each device to said master;  
       providing each of said devices with a number of channels, each channel having an identifying number and a plurality of discrete channel states;  
       configuring said master to send a first type of control message to respective devices, a control message of said first type directing a recipient device to place one of its channels in a specified channel state; and  
       further configuring said master to send second and third types of control messages, selectively, wherein a control message of said second type directs a recipient device to set the level of a specified parameter to a certain value, and a control message of said third type comprises a character string of variable length.  
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
       at least one of said devices comprises a controlling device disposed to regulate operation of a controlled device, and said master is operated to generate a fourth type of control message comprising a command to said controlling device that pertains to operation of said controlled device.  
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein: 
       a string of said third type of control message is converted to a format supported by a device disposed to receive said string.  
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein: 
       control messages of one or more of said control message types are inserted as respective control message components into a packet, in accordance with a specified protocol, for transmission between said master and one of said devices.  
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 2 , wherein: 
       a device identification number is temporarily assigned to a given device by said master to enable communication of information between said given device and said master, wherein said given device does not have a permanently assigned identification number, and is transparent to operation of said system when a device number is not temporarily assigned thereto.  
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein: 
       said master is operated to periodically query respective devices, in order to monitor availability of respective devices for communication of information.  
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 2 , wherein: 
       each of said devices is provided with an identification number and one or more ports, each of said ports having an identification number and one or more channels.  
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein: 
       said master is operated to render a channel of a first device into an input state, in order to receive an input from said first device, and is further operated to render a channel of a second device into an output state, in order to send said input received from said first device as an output to said second device.  
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein: 
       each of said channels is disposed to indicate a specific function, parameter or property, selectively, of its corresponding device.  
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 7 , wherein: 
       a message sent between said master and a selected one of said devices is provided with an address indicating the identification numbers of the selected device, and of the port and channel thereof originating or receiving the message.  
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 2 , wherein: 
       said system comprises a control area network, and said master is operated to exchange messages between respective devices of said control area network and the Internet.  
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein: 
       said master comprises a number of managers, including device, diagnostic, configuration and IP port connection managers.  
     
     
       13. A control system comprising: 
       a master;  
       a plurality of devices, each of said devices provided with a number of channels and each channel having an identification number and a plurality of discrete channel states;  
       means for initially directing all messages sent to and from each device to said master; and  
       said master is configured to send first, second and third types of control messages to respective devices, wherein a control message of said first type directs a recipient device to place one of its channels in a specified channel state, a control message of said second type directs a recipient device to set the level of a specified parameter to a certain value, and a control message of said third type comprises a character string of variable length.  
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein: 
       at least one of said devices comprises a controlling device disposed to regulate operation of a controlled device, and said master is disposed to generate a fourth type of control message comprising a command to said controlling device that pertains to operation of said controlled device.  
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein: 
       a string of said third type of control message is converted to a format supported by a device disposed to receive said string.  
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein: 
       a device identification number is temporarily assigned to a given device by said master to enable communication of information between said given device and said master, wherein said given device does not have a permanently assigned identification number, and is transparent to operation of said system when a device number is not temporarily assigned thereto.  
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein: 
       each of said devices is provided with an identification number and one or more ports, each of said ports having an identification number and one or more channels.  
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein: 
       said master is adapted to render a channel of a first device into an input state, in order to receive an input from said first device, and is further adapted to render a channel of a second device into an output state, in order to send said input received from said first device as an output to said second device.  
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein: 
       said system comprises a control area network, and said master is coupled to exchange messages between respective devices of said control area network and the Internet.  
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , wherein: 
       said master comprises a number of managers, including device, diagnostic, configuration and IP port connection managers.